The cost of El Niño floods: Mandera County counting losses exceeding Sh800 million
Mandera County is facing losses exceeding sh800 million in the aftermath of the recent El Niño floods. The floods, besides causing human casualties and displacements, submerged farms, resulted in setbacks due to livestock deaths, damaged roads, water facilities, and significantly impacted the health sector.
Mandera County is facing losses exceeding sh800 million in the aftermath of the recent El Niño floods. The floods, besides causing human casualties and displacements, submerged farms, resulted in setbacks due to livestock deaths, damaged roads, water facilities, and significantly impacted the health sector.
During his Jamhuri Day speech, the Mandera County Governor Mohamed Khalif highlighted the profound effects of the devastating floods. The county's road infrastructure suffered severely, with 99 percent of roads being earth or gravel, effectively isolating the county from the rest of the country. In the sub-counties, 90 per cent of culverts and drifts were washed away, disrupting major inter-sub-county roads.
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Mandera dancers entertaining members of public who attended this year's Jamuhuri Day celebrations.
The health sector faced challenges as almost 35 health facilities, including Elwak, Elgolicha, and Elkala, became inaccessible. Critical water systems and sanitary facilities in hospitals were also damaged. Despite these challenges, the county received medical supplies worth sh170 million from the national government in response to the floods.
The floods caused extensive damage to farmlands along the River Daua basin and areas along Lagas, affecting over 9,400 farming households and damaging 2,357 hectares of crops. Eight irrigation schemes were also destroyed. In response to these losses, the county government distributed 17 metric tons of seeds and procured pesticides to support affected farmers.
The livestock sector reported a loss of 2,621 animals, with cases of livestock diseases. The Department of Animal Health, with support from NGOs, conducted vaccination and treatment.
The most severely affected sector was water facilities, where floods shut down two main urban water supplies in Mandera and Elwak and submerged 22 water supplies along the river. Almost 70 water pans were destroyed, along with numerous underground tanks and submerged pit latrines, leading to water contamination. The governor estimated that approximately sh700 million was needed for county-wide water infrastructure rehabilitation.
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